Enclosure for toilet paper roll

ABSTRACT

One embodiment includes a product comprising: a toilet paper roll housing comprising a first portion comprising a first partial cylinder portion, a first end wall, and a second end wall; a second portion comprising a second partial cylinder portion, a third end wall, and a fourth end wall, wherein at least one of the first end wall and the second end wall or the third end wall and the fourth end wall each comprise a receiving portion to receive the terminal end of a toilet paper rod supporting a toilet paper roll for rotational movement thereon; wherein the first portion is constructed and arranged to slide at least one of over or under the second portion in an open position to allow access to the toilet paper roll.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The field to which the disclosure generally relates includes toiletpaper roll accessories.

BACKGROUND

Children and pets have a tendency to pull toilet paper from the toiletpaper roll in a bathroom. A device to prevent this would be very usefulin the bathrooms of many households and places of business.

SUMMARY OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment includes a product comprising: a toilet paper rollhousing comprising a first portion comprising a first partial cylinderportion, a first end wall, and a second end wall; a second portioncomprising a second partial cylinder portion, a third end wall, and afourth end wall, wherein at least one of the first end wall and thesecond end wall or the third end wall and the fourth end wall eachcomprise a receiving portion to receive the terminal end of a toiletpaper rod supporting a toilet paper roll for rotational movementthereon; wherein the first portion is constructed and arranged to slideat least one of over or under the second portion in an open position toallow access to the toilet paper roll.

Other exemplary embodiments of the invention will become apparent fromthe detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understoodthat the detailed description and specific examples, while disclosingexemplary embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes ofillustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will become more fully understoodfrom the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a toilet paper roll housing according to oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a toilet paper roll housing according to oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3A illustrates a toilet paper roll housing according to oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3B is a partial, sectional view of a toilet paper roll housingaccording to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3C is a partial view of a first portion of a toilet paper rollhousing according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3D is a partial, sectional view of a toilet paper roll housingaccording to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4A illustrates a toilet paper roll housing according to oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4B is a sectional view of a toilet paper roll housing according toone embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5A is an end view a toilet paper roll housing according to oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5B is an end view a toilet paper roll housing according to anotherembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5C an end view a toilet paper roll housing according to oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5D is a perspective view of a reducer useful in one embodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 5E is a partial, sectional view of one embodiment of the inventionusing a reducer to reduce the diameter of the opening in the housing toreceive a smaller toilet paper rod;

FIG. 6 illustrates a toilet paper roll housing according to oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a partial, sectional view illustrating latching featureaccording to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 is an end view of a second portion of a toil paper roll housingaccording to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 is an end view of first and second portions of a toilet paperroll housing illustrating a slideable track feature according to oneembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 10A is a partial, side view illustrating a stop feature used tostop the slideable movement of a first portion of the housing over asecond portion of the housing;

FIG. 10B is a partial, side view illustrating a stop feature used tostop the slideable movement of a first portion of the housing in side ofa second portion of the housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The following description of the embodiment(s) is merely exemplary innature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, itsapplication, or uses.

Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment includes a toilet paper housing 10including a first portion 12 and a second portion 14. The first portion12 includes a first partial cylinder portion 16, a first end wall 18,and a second end wall 20. The second portion 14 includes a secondpartial cylinder portion 22, a third end wall 24, and a fourth end wall26. In one embodiment, the toilet paper housing 10 includes a fastener28 for releasably attaching the first portion 12 and the second portion14 to each other to include a toilet paper roll 13 (shown in phantom)between the first portion 12 and the second portion 14 and to preventaccess to the toilet paper roll 13 in a closed position.

In one embodiment, the fastener 28 may include a first fastener element30 formed in the first portion 12 and a second fastener element 32formed in the second portion 14. For example, as shown in FIG. 7, in oneembodiment of the invention the first fastener element 30 may be a latchpaw and the second fastener 32 may be a stub or projection extendingfrom an outer surface of the second partial cylinder portion 22.Together, the first fastener element 30 and the second fastener element32 allow the first portion 12 and the second portion 14 to completelyclose together at an intersection 34 in a closed position. In thisclosed position, children and pet animals may be hindered from gainingaccess to the toilet paper roll 13. Yet older children and adults may beable to unfasten the fastener 28 to gain access to the toilet paper roll13 and to insert a new toilet paper roll 13 into the toilet paperhousing 10.

The first portion 12 may be constructed and arranged to slide over thesecond portion 14 or under the second portion 14 to permit access to thetoilet paper roll 13 when the toilet paper housing 10 is in an openposition. Referring to FIG. 2, the first portion 12 and the secondportion 14 are shown in an open position. In this embodiment, the firstportion 12 is constructed and arranged to slide under the second portion14 to allow access to the toilet paper roll 13.

In one embodiment, the second portion 14 includes a receiving portion 36to receive a terminal end 38 of a toilet paper rod 40 supporting atoilet paper roll 13 for rotational movement thereon. In one embodimentof the invention, the receiving portion 36 is provided by the secondwall 24 which may include a through hole 44 formed therein. The toiletpaper roll 13 may or may not include a tube made of cardboard or othermaterial in the center of the roll. Referring to FIG. 3A, in oneembodiment, the receiving portion 36 may include an opening 44. In oneembodiment, the toilet paper rod 40 may be a spring loaded rod. Thetoilet paper rod 40 may extend through the opening 44 to make contactwith an attachment device 46 (shown in phantom lines) which attaches toa wall to hold the toilet paper housing 10 in place, for example next toa toilet. The attachment device 46 may be any suitable device forattaching the toilet paper housing 10 to the wall, for example any ofthe attachment devices known in the art and commonly used in bathrooms.FIG. 3B shows a sectional view of the toilet paper housing 10 with theopening 44 and the rod 40 extending through the opening 44 to contactthe attachment device 46. As shown in FIG. 3C, the first partialcylindrical portion 12 may include a projection 100 and a through hole102 formed therein to receive a portion of the rod 40. As shown in FIG.3D, optionally the projection 100 may include a nipple 104 that may bepress fit into the opening 44 of the second partial cylindrical portion14.

Referring to FIG. 4A, in another embodiment, the receiving portion 36may include a recess 38 formed, for example, in the third wall 24. Inone embodiment, the toilet paper rod 40 may extend into the recess 48and held in place so that the toilet paper roll 42 will be supported forthe rotational movement of the toilet paper roll 42 when the firstportion 12 and the second portion 14 are in the open position. As shownin FIG. 4A, in one embodiment including the recess 48, the toilet paperhousing 10 may be supported on a toilet paper stand 50. The toilet paperstand 50 may be attached to the second portion 14. The toilet paperstand 50 may be freestanding or it may be attached to the floor of abathroom, for example. In this embodiment, the attachment device 46 isnot needed for the toilet paper housing 10 to function properly. Thetoilet paper stand 50 allows the user to access the toilet paper roll 13when the first portion 12 and the second portion 14 are in the openposition. FIG. 4B is a sectional view of the toilet paper housing 10 ofFIG. 4A showing the recess 48 and the toilet paper rod 40.

A toilet paper roll 13 may include a tube (not shown) made of cardboardor other material in the center of the roll, wherein the inner diameterof the tube may vary. Likewise, the outer diameter of a toilet paper rod40 may vary.

The toilet paper roll may be received on a rod 40 that may vary indiameter as well. Referring to FIG. 5A, in one embodiment the toiletpaper housing 10 may include a perforated edge 52 around the outside ofthe opening 44 for the toilet paper rod 40. In this embodiment, theopening 44 may be permanently enlarged to receive the terminal end 38 ofa toilet paper rod 40 with a larger diameter. The opening 44 may beenlarged by punching out the perforated section bounded by theperforated edge 52.

Referring to FIG. 5B, in another embodiment the toilet paper rollhousing 10 may include a plurality of flexible tabs surrounding theopening 44. In this embodiment, the opening 44 may be temporarilyenlarged to receive the terminal end 38 of the toilet paper rod 40 witha larger diameter. The flexible tabs 54 may be temporarily bent in orderto enlarge the opening 44 to receive a larger diameter rod 40. However,this enlargement is reversible if subsequently a toilet paper rod 40with a smaller diameter is desired. The flexible tabs 54 may return totheir original position due to the elastic memory of the material or thetabs may be pushed back to their original position so that the opening44 is smaller.

Referring to FIG. 5C, another embodiment may include a hinged portion 46with a hinge 47 around the opening 44. The hinged portion 46 may beswung open in order to enlarge the opening 44 to receive the terminalend 38 of the toilet paper rod 40 with a larger diameter. The hingedportion 46 could also be reversed to accommodate a smaller diameter.Referring to FIG. 5D, one embodiment of the invention may include othermeans of the larger or shrinking the opening 44, for example but notlimited to, a washer 110 which may include a flange and a nipple 114extending therefrom including a through hole 116 formed there through.The nipple 114 may be press fit into the third wall 24 to reduce thesize of the opening 44 as shown in FIG. 5E. Optionally the nipple 114may also extend through the opening 108 in the first wall 18.

Referring again to FIG. 5B, in one embodiment, the first portion 12 maybe smaller than the second portion 14. The height, H1, of the first endwall 18 and the second end wall 20 of the first portion 12 may besmaller than the height, H2, of the third end wall 24 and the forth endwall 26 of the second portion 14. In one embodiment, the first portion12 is heavier than the second portion 14. In one embodiment, therelative height and weight of the first portion 12 and the secondportion 14 are such that when a user opens and closes the toilet paperhousing 10, the toilet paper housing 10 remains relatively stable.

In one embodiment, the height H1 of each of the first end wall 18 andthe second end wall 20 of the first portion 12 may be about 1 to about 2inches. The height H2 of each of the third end wall 24 and the fourthend wall 26 of the second portion 14 may be about 3 to about 4 inches.In other embodiments, the height H1 may be about 2 to about 3, and theheight H2 may be about 3½ to about 4¾.

Referring now to FIG. 6, the fastener 28 may include any type ofsuitable fastener. The fastener 28 may be, but is not limited to, forexample, a snap lock, VELCRO® (hook and loop fastener means), a magnet,a latch, a hook, or pressure lock. In one embodiment, at least a portionof the first portion 12 or the second portion 14 may be composed ofplastic, wood, metal, metal alloy, ceramic, mesh, or fiberglass.

In one embodiment, the toilet paper housing 10 may include cut-outshapes 56 in at least a portion of the toilet paper housing 10. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 6, the first end portion 18 and the third endportion 24 may include the cut-out shapes 56. In one embodiment, thecut-out shapes 56 may extend all the way through the toilet paperhousing 10 such that the toilet paper roll 18 may be seen from theoutside. In another embodiment, the cut-out shapes 56 may be constructedof a different material and/or be of a different color than thesurrounding portion of the toilet paper housing 10.

Referring to FIG. 8, in one embodiment, the toilet paper housing 10 mayinclude a transparent cover 58 positioned over at least a portion of thefirst portion 12 or the second portion 14. For example, as shown in FIG.6, the transparent cover 58 may be positioned over the entirety of thefirst partial cylinder portion 16 and the second partial cylinderportion 22 to define a slot 120 therebetween. A decorative sheet may bereceived through an open end of the slot 120 and under the transparentcover 58. For example, the decorative sheet may include paper, cloth, awallpaper, a portion of wallpaper, or any other decorative material. Inthis way, the toilet paper housing 10 may be coordinated with anybathroom. The user may also periodically change the decorative sheetunder the transparent cover 58 in order to change the decorative look ofthe toilet paper housing 10.

Referring now to FIG. 9, in one embodiment of the invention the firstpartial cylindrical portion 12 may include a projection 130 or tonguethat is slideably received in a track 132 or groove provided in thesecond partial cylindrical portion 14. In this embodiment of theinvention the projection 100 and through hole 102 shown in FIG. 3C isnot needed. In one embodiment of the invention includes a tongue 130 andgroove 132 means constructed and arranged so that the first partialcylindrical portion 12 may be slideably moved with respect to the secondpartial cylindrical portion 14, and wherein one of the tongue 130 orgroove 132 is provide in the first partial cylindrical portion 12, andthe other of the tongue 130 and groove 132 is provide in one of thesecond partial cylindrical portion 14, the third end wall 24 or thefourth end wall 26.

As shown in FIG. 10A a stop 134 may be provided on an outer face 23 ofthe second partial cylindrical portion 14 to stop the slideable movementof the first partial cylindrical portion 12 over the second partialcylindrical portion 14. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 10B, a stop 134may be provided on an inner face 21 of the second partial cylindricalportion 14 to stop the slideable movement of the first partialcylindrical portion 12 in side the second partial cylindrical portion14.

The above description of embodiments of the invention is merelyexemplary in nature and, thus, variations thereof are not to be regardedas a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A product comprising: a toilet paper roll housing comprising a firstportion comprising a first partial cylinder portion, a first end wall,and a second end wall; a second portion comprising a second partialcylinder portion, a third end wall, and a fourth end wall, wherein atleast one of the first end wall and the second end wall or the third endwall and the fourth end wall each comprise a receiving portion toreceive the terminal end of a toilet paper rod supporting a toilet paperroll for rotational movement thereon; and wherein the first portion isconstructed and arranged to slide at least one of over or under thesecond portion to an open position to allow access to the toilet paperroll.
 2. A product as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a fastenerfor releasably attaching the first portion and the second portion toeach other to enclose the toilet paper roll and prevent access thereto,wherein the fastener comprises a first fastener element formed in thefirst portion and a second fastener element formed in the secondportion.
 3. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the receivingportion comprises an opening through one of the end walls.
 4. A productas set forth in claim 1 wherein the receiving portion comprises a recessformed in one of the end walls.
 5. A product as set forth in claim 3further comprising a plurality of flexible tabs surrounding the openingfor the toilet paper rod such that the opening may be temporarilyenlarged to receive a terminal end of a toilet paper rod with a largerdiameter.
 6. A toilet paper housing as set forth in claim 3 furthercomprising a perforated edge formed in the wall having the opening suchthat the opening may be permanently enlarged by removing a portion ofthe wall to receive a terminal end of a toilet paper rod with a largerdiameter.
 7. A toilet paper housing as set forth in claim 2 furthercomprising a hinged portion formed in the wall with the opening suchthat the opening may be temporarily enlarged to receive a terminal endof a toilet a paper rod with a larger diameter.
 8. A toilet paperhousing as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a reducer in theopening for the toilet paper roll.
 9. A toilet paper housing as setforth in claim 1 wherein the second portion is larger than the firstportion.
 10. A toilet paper housing as set forth in claim 1 wherein thesecond portion is heavier than the first portion.
 11. A toilet paperhousing as set forth in claim 1 wherein the height of each of the firstend wall and the second end wall is about 1 to about 2 inches.
 12. Atoilet paper housing as set forth in claim 1 wherein the height of eachof the third end wall and the fourth end wall is about 3 to about 4inches.
 13. A toilet paper housing as set forth in claim 2 wherein thefastener comprises one of a snap lock, hook and loop fastener means, alatch, a hook, a magnet, or pressure lock.
 14. A toilet paper housing asset forth in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of at least one of thefirst portion or the second portion comprises plastic, wood, metal,metal alloy, ceramic, mesh, or fiberglass.
 15. A toilet paper housing asset forth in claim 1 wherein at least a portion of the toilet paperhousing has cutout shapes formed therein.
 16. A toilet paper housing asset forth in claim 1 further comprising a transparent cover over atleast a portion of one of the first portion or the second portion andconstructed and arranged to define a slot therebetween, wherein adecorative sheet may be positioned in the slot and under the transparentcover.
 17. A toilet paper housing as set forth in claim 1 wherein thetoilet paper rod is spring-loaded.
 18. A toilet paper housing as setforth in claim 1 wherein the first portion and the second portion arenot constructed and arranged to be directly attached to a wall.
 19. Aproduct as set forth in claim 1 wherein each end wall includes anopening.
 20. A product as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first partialcylindrical portion includes a projection and a through hole formedtherethrough to receive a portion of the rod.
 22. A product as set forthin claim 20 wherein the projection includes a nipple portion constructedand arranged to be press fit into the opening.
 23. A product as setforth in claim 8 therein the reducer comprises a flange and a nippleextending therefrom and a through hole formed through the nipple.
 24. Aproduct as set forth in claim 1 a further comprising a tongue and grooveconstructed and arranged so that the first partial cylindrical portionmay be slideably moved with respect to the second partial cylindricalportion, and wherein one of the tongue or groove is provide in the firstpartial cylindrical portion, and the other of the tongue and groove isprovide in one of the second partial cylindrical portion, the third endwall or the fourth end wall.
 25. A product as set forth in claim 1further comprising a stop on one of an outer face of the second partialcylindrical portion to stop the slideable movement of the first partialcylindrical portion over the second partial cylindrical portion or on aninner face of the second partial cylindrical portion to stop theslideable movement of the first partial cylindrical portion in side thesecond partial cylindrical portion.